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GIDEON BANDS 

FOR WORK WITHIN THE RACE 

AND FOR WORK WITHOUT 

THE RACE 



A Message to the Colored People 
of the United States 



A DISCOURSE DELIVERED IN THE FIFTEENTH STREET 

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, WASHINGTON, D. C-, 

SUNDAY. MARCH THE 2ND, 1913, 

BY THE PASTOK. 

REV. FRANCIS J. GRIMKE, D. D. 



■" BETTER NOT LIVE AT ALL THAN NOT BE NOBLE. 



"UNLESS ABOVE HIMSELF HE CAN 

ERECT HIMSELF, HOW POOR A THING IS MAN! 



"FOR FREEDOM'S BATTLE ONCE BEGUN. 
BEQUEATH'D BY BLEEDING SIRE TO SON. 
THOUGH BAFFLED OFT IS EVER WON." 



EVERY BONDMAN IN HIS OWN HAND BEARS 
THE POWER TO CANCEL HIS CAPTIVITY." 










R. L. PENDLETON 

CO* F ST. N. W.. WASHINOTON. D. C. 
TSkBPHONK MAIN tl4l 

c 

■AR .^ 1913 



/•^^/a)3f 



GIDEON BANDS FOR WORK WITHIN THE 
RACE AND FOR WORK WITHOUT IT. 



And [fliovali -aid unto Cidcun, Tlic i)coi>lc tiiat arc uilli thoe arc too 
many for mc to j^ive llio Midiaiiites into their liands. lost Israel vaunt tlicni- 
>elves :i,t;uin>t tnc, sa\ing, Mine own hand hatli sared itie. Now therefore 
proclaim in the cars of the people, -a\ in;^^ Whosoever is fearful and trem- 
hlinij. let him return and dep.irt from Montit (iiliad. And there returned <>i 
the jH'ople twenty and two tliousand; and there remained ten thousand. And 
Jehovah said unto (iideon. The people are yet too many; hnw^ them down to 
the water, and I will try them for thee there; and it shall he. that of whom I 
say unto thee. This -.hall j^o with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of 
whomsoever I ^hall siy unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall 
not go. So he brought tlicni down to the water: and Jehovah said unto 
tiideon. Every one that lapiK-th of the water with his tongue, a> a dog 
lappeth. him shalt thou set hy himself; likewise every one that howeth down 
uix)n his knees to drink. .And the number of them that lapjjed, putting 
their hands to their month, was 300; but all the rest of the people 
bowed down upon their knees to drink water. .\jid Jehovah said unto 
(iideon, Uy the three hundred men that lapped w 11 I save you. and deliver 
the .Midianites into tliy li.iiid; and let all the ])eoi>le go every man to his 
place. JfncKS 7^-7. 



St'vtn'iil yoni-s rigo this i)Hssage formed ;i \niri of the annual 
prograniiiie of tlu; Young Peoi)]os' Society of Christian Endeavor, 
and was discussed under tlie heading. '* Wanted: IMen for Gideon's 
l)and.'" And tliis is the sui).ioet that I desire to consider tliis 
morning. Tliere are several lines of thougiit suggested by the 
topic. Xo one can read Hie narrative out of which it grows with- 
out being prol'otnidly impri^ssed. 

T. In ringing terms there is the proclamation of ;i waul. 
Wanted I is the note that rings out clear and distinct. There is a 
demand, a pr<!ssing need, a crying necessity. Wanted! Wanted! 
Wanted! AVe have all Ix'ard that cry before. It is not a new 
one. It is one with which we are all familiar. Along the street 
we often see the sign in the windows of stores or on the outside, 
"l>oy wanted." "Man wanted." Every paper wc take u}). eveiy 
magazine we read is full of advertisements of one kind or another, 
all of which are expressions of a want of souw. kind. They are put 
in and paid for by people who have goods that they want to sell, 
houses that they want to rent, pi-operty that they want to disi)ose 
of, money that they want to ])ut out at interest, or. they want to 
jind employment of some kjiul. 



II. Another thought that grows naturally out of the topic 
is. AVantcd by wlioiii ' Tlie context leaves us in no doubt as 
to the answer. Wanted l)y the Lord God of hosts, by Jehovah. 
The great power that is working here is God: — he it is who is di- 
recting everything; he it is with wlu)in Gideon is in eomnuuiieation 
and wlio is planning the whole eainpaign that is to be i)rojeeted. 
It is Jehovah who is exi)ressing the ne('d. and who is niakiiig the 
appeal. While priiiiaiily the i-(;f('reii('e is to God. in another sense, 
the need expressed here was felt by tlic wlioh' Jewish eonniuuiity— 
the state, tlie ehurch, the family, society at birge. These were all 
in nerd, and in great and ])ressing need. Xo one ean- read the 
narrative without feeling the burden of this need i)ressing upon 
him. 

ITT. Another Ihonght that springs naturally into oui' minds 
as we think of the subject is. AYhat is it that is wanted.' And tlie 
aiLswer is .Men foi- GidcMtn's I'and. Men ar(^ wliat is wanted; men 
to be welded together in one compact body foi" a dettnite and 
specific purpose. This band, which God is seek'ing to organize 
here, is called Gideon's Baiul. AVho was Gideon .' He was the son 
of Joash. of the ti"il»e of Manasseh. He lived in the midst of dis- 
tressing circumstances. His i)eoi)le were greatly oppressed. There 
were powerful enemies that harra.ssed them ; that nuide life miser- 
able for them. The writei- of this book of Judges gives us this 
insight into their sad condition: "And the hand of ]\Iidian ]>i"e- 
vailed against Israel. Aiul because of Alidian the chihlren of Israel 
made them dens which are in the mountains, and the caves, and 
the strongholds. And so it was. when Isi'ael had sow?i. that the 
Midianites came up. and the AmaU'kites. and the children of the 
east: they came up against them: ami they encamped ngainst them, 
and destroyed the increase of tlu^ earth, till they came unto Gaza, 
and left no substance in Fsrae]. neithi-r sheep, noi- ox. nor ass. 
For they came up with ihc\v cattb- and their tents; they came in 
as locusts foi- niultitnde; both 1he>' and their camels were without 
number: and they came into the land to destroy it. And Tsi-ael 
was brought very low." 

"What is .said here of Gideon i-eveals the same sad condition 
of things. "And the angel of Jehovah came and sat under the 
oak which was in Ophrah. th.at ])ertained unto Joash the Aliiezritc: 
and his son Gideon was i)eating out wheat in the winepress, to hide 
it from the Midianites. And the angel of Jehovah appeared unto 
him. and said unto him. Jehovah is with thee, thou mighty man 
of valor. And Gideim said unto him. Oh. my Lord, if Jehovah 
is Avith us, why tlien is all this befallen us? and where are all his 
■wondrous work which our fathers told us of. saying. Did not 
Jehovah bring us up from Egyi)t? l)ut now Jehovah liath cast 
m off, an doliyered us into the hantl of Midian." 



What a wail of distress rmis through the whole of this narra- 
tive. In order to jireserve a little wheat, enough to keep soul 
and body together, it had to be hid away : and \vhen the time came 
for threshing it out, it had to be done in secret, in obscure, out-of- 
the-way places, as we find Gideon doing here. They certainly were 
in a most pitiable, eondition. It is well for us to remember, in thw 
connection, that the evils from which these people were suffering 
were due to their own misconduet. They had no one to blame but 
themselves. Their condition might have been very different if they 
had behaved tliemselves. And this fact is clearly brought out in 
the narrative: God is very careful to bring to their attention the 
secret of their misfortunes : — 

"And it came to pass when the children of Israel cried unto 
Jehovah because of IMidian, tliat Jehovah sent a prophet unto the 
children of Israel : <nid he said unto them. Thus saith Jehovah, 
the God of Israel. I brought you up from Egypt, and brought 
you forth out of the house of bondage; and I delivered you out of 
the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all who oppressed 
you, and gave you their land; and I said unto you. I am Jehovah 
your God; ye shall not fear the gods of the Ainorites, in whose 
land ye dwell. But ye have not liarkened unto my voice." When 
evils come upon us, it is well to ask ourselves the question. How 
fai- are we responsil)le for them? How far are they due to our 
own misconduct, or the misconduct of those who have gone before 
us? It isn't safe tp assume that we are not to blame, that our 
skirts are clear. In nine case out of ten the opposite will be found 
to be true, as we find it hei-e, in regard to these Israelites. 

Gideon's Band was a l)ody of men gotten together, in view of 
the distressing circumstances here set forth for the purpose of 
fighting the enemy, of shaking off' the yoke of the oppressor. Let 
us study these men for a moment. There were thi-ee hundred of 
them in all. So far as the record goes not one of their names has 
been preserved to us, save that of the leader only. The names 
are all omitted, but the qualities that characterized them are pre- 
served. We are not told ^vlio they Avere, but we are told what 
kind of men they were: and it is to this point particularly that I 
desire to direct attention just here. A careful study of what is 
\\Titten here in regai-d to these men will reveal the following facts 
about them : 

(]). They were fully conscious of the evils from which ther 
were suffering, and earnestly desired to be rid of them. It matters 
not how these evils originated, the point to which I am directing 
attention here is, that these men i-ecognized them as evil. They 
were not satisfied with conditions as they were. They wanted a 
change. They were tired of the oppression of the iMidianites, 
They realized that they were being oppressed, and that it was not 



good for them to eoiitiiiue in the conditio]! in Avhich they were. 
And it is only where sueh a mental attitiule exists tliat there ean 
be any suecessful warfare against oppressive conditions. Unless 
the evil to be remedied is felt, and keenly felt, it is not likely that 
there will be any effort pnt forth to remdy it. or any prospect 
of securing the cooperation of tliose who Jire sutfering in an effoi-t 
to do so. 

(2). They were men of courage, of splendid daring. They 
came in res])onse to a call from Gideon. Gideon had Hirown down 
the altar of 15aal which his father had erected; and hccause his 
father I'efused to turn him over to be put to death by the .Midian- 
ites, the adherents of Baal, a large force was collected to enforce 
the decree of death against him. It was inider such eircumstances 
that Gideon issued his call. AVe are told, "The Spirit of the 
Lord came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezar was 
gathered together after him. And he sent messengers throughout 
all Manas-seh ; and they were also gathered together after him: 
and he sent messengei's unto Asher. and unto Zeiudn]i, rtiid unto 
Naphtali ; and they came up to me(>t them."' 

As the result of this call some thirty-two thousand men came- 

to his relief. Twenty-two thousand of these, howeV(-r, caiiK^ simply 
because they felt that they nuisl come, but theii- h(^arts were not in 
it. Tliey i-ecognized the fact that there was danger in the ste}) 
they were taking, that they inight lose theii" lives in the conflict 
which Avas sure to ensue between them and the enemy. As soon 
therefore as the opportunity ])resented itself they went hack to 
their homes. Of th(^ ten thousand who remained however. Avho, 
vnth the full consciousness of what the outcome might be. kept their 
places, the thret^ hundred of whom Ave are speakiiig wcn-e 
a part. Tlu^ men who Avent back. Avho availed themselves of the 
permission granted by the proclamation "AVhosocA'cr is fearfid 
and trembling, let liinj return from Alount (}i!(^;!d." Avould Iuia'c 
been glad to ha"\'e th.e oppr(>ssoi's' yoke broken, to liaA-e been re- 
lieved of the CA'ils from which they were suffering; Imt they were 
not Anlling to risk anything, to expose themselves to any danger-. 
They Avere timid: they A\'eie afraid of raaking things Avorse ; of 
bringing upon themselves still greatei" CA'iTs. Not so however Avitli 
these men. They Avere Avilling to endui'e hardship: to encountei" 
danger; to lay doAvn their lives, if necessary. The enemies Avere 
all about them, and about them in vast numbers. The I'ccord is. 
"And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of 
the east lay along the valley like locusts for n.udtitude: and their 
camels Avere Avithout number, as the sand which is u[)on the sea- 
shore for uuiltitude. " lUit tlH're is no feaj- di.^•'o^■eral)le iu thesf^; 
fhv&e Jiw4rp4 men. 



i? 



(3). They wove incn of f'aitli. They believed m God. They 
were williug to truhst God ; to rest upon his promises. They knew 
perfectly well that, in and of themselves, they were no match for 
those who were opposed to them and with whom they were to 
measure arms; but they knew that Jehovah, the God of Abraham, 
of Isaac, and of Jacob — the God who had brought their forefathei's 
out of Egypt and v.iio had sustained them for forty years in the 
wilderness, was more than a matoli for them ; and that it was 
under his direction that they v;ere to fight. It was this element 
of faith in God that enabled them on that night, when the a.ssault 
was made, to go forth as they did a bare handful and to take their 
places as indicated to them by Gideon. That their hope of victory 
was not in their own strength is clear from the manner in which 
they were armed. There was not a deadly weapon among them. 
There was not a single weapon of warfare, either offensive or de- 
fensive, 'iunong them. They were armed with what ? The record 
is: "And he divided tlie three hundred men into three companies, 
and put into the hands of all of them trumpets and empty pitchers, 
with torches within the pitchei's." This was a strange way to 
ecpiip men to do battle with i)owei ful and deadly enemies ; and yet 
this was the M'ay they were, armed. The smallness of their numl)er, 
as well as the manner in whieh they Avere equipped for battle, 
show, in a very striking manner, their faith in an arm that was 
mightier than theirs. It it had not l^een tliat God was back of 
them, and that they were conscious of that fact, they never v;ould 
have budged a step. Gideon might have issued his order, but 
it would have met with no resi)onse. He would have called, and 
called in vain for help. Faith in Jehovah — in the Lord God Al- 
mighty — becomes import ar^t as an element of character: (1) Be- 
cause of the subjective effect upon the individual exercising it. It 
is a real source of strength to liim. And (2) because God can 
help, and does help those who i)ut their tru.st in him. "All things 
are possible to them that believe.'' we are told in the inspired 
record. x\nd Jesus said to his disciples: "If ye have faith as a 
grain of nmstard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain. Remove 
hence to yonder place ; and it shall remove ; and nothing shall be 
impossible unto you." In saying tliat these were men of faith 
means a great deal therefore. It is a great thing to be linked 
with God; to be consciously in league with the Almighty. 

(4). These men were reliable. They could be depended 
upon. What they were directed to do; what they undertook to 
do. they did faithfully. The ordei- which they received from their 
leader was: "Behold when I come to the outermost ])art of the 
camp, it shall be that as I do so shall ye do. AYhen I blow the 
trumpet. I and all that are witli me. then blow ye the trumpets 
alsp on every side of all thp littmp, md 'say, For Jeli»;»yah aa(,l Jfpj' 



Gideon." This was the order which they received; and here is 
the record as to how they eai-ried it out: "So Gideon and the three 
hundred men that were with him, came to the outermost part of 
the camp in the beginning of the middle watch, when they had 
but newly set the watch : and brake in pieces the pitchers that were 
in their hands. And the three companies blew the trumpets— that 
is what they were directed to do ; and brake in pieces the pitchers — 
that is what they were directed to do; and held the torches in their 
left hand and the trumpets in their right hand — that is what they 
were directed to do ; and cried the sword of the Lord and of 
Gideon — that is what they were directed to do. What they were 
directed to do, they did. Not a man failed. The record is, "And 
there stood every man in his place round about the camp." They 
did not skulk away ; they were at the post of duty to which they 
had been assigned. Each one answered the call of duty : each one 
proved faithful. 

(5). There is still another thing about these men that should 
be noted. It comes out in connection with the manner in which 
they drank water. The record is, "And Jehovah said unto Gideon, 
The people are yet too many : bring them down unto the water, 
and I will try them for thee there ; and it shall be that of whom 
I say unto thee. This shall go with thee, the same shall go with 
thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee. This shall not go with 
thee, the same shall not go. So he brought down the people unto 
the water: and Jehovah said unto Gideon, Eveiy one that lap})eth 
of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou 
set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees 
to drink." The three hundred men. of whom we are speaking, 
lapped the water and because of that fact were selected by Jehovah 
for the special work which he had in view. It is not quite clear, per- 
haps, exactly what the quality is which this is intended to indicate. 
The fact that they did not get down upon their knees to drink 
might indicate that they M'ere yoimger, more vigorous, more active 
than the rest; or it might indicate that they were more alert, more 
vigilant, more watchful. They were surroimded by enemies, and 
Avere liable at any time to be assailed. Their not getting down 
upon their knees would seem to indicate that they realized the 
danger to which they were exposed, and kept themselves in an at- 
titude that would enable them instantly to defend themselves, to 
meet the enemy. The test to which they were subjected, if we take 
this view of the matter, shows that they were men of force, that 
they were active, wide awake. They fully appreciated the circum- 
stances in which they were placed and the necessity on their jiai't of 
being active, wide awal^e. on the alert. 

Such was the character of the men of whom we are speaking. 
They were men of conviction — they felt, and felt keenly the evils 



from ^vhieh they were suffering, and their minds were fully made 
up to endure them no longer, if by any effort of theirs they could 
escape them. They were men of genuine courage — they were not 
afraid to meet the enemy. They were men of faith — faith in God. 
They were men who were thoroughly reliable — who could be de- 
pended upon, to whom any duty could be assigned in the confident 
assurance that it would be faithfully attended to. And they "were 
men who were active, vigorous — men of ph,ysical and mental 
stamina. 

'^IMie getting logclher of such a company as tliis was a great 
achievement. It wasn 't easily done. Thirty-two thousand men 
had to be sifted before they could be found ; but they were found. 
AVlien the time comes God is always able to find the men he wants 
to use. AVhen the great Civil AVar broke out in this country, it 
was a singular fact, that there were three such men as Grant, 
Sherman, and Sheridan ready to lead the Union forces on to vic- 
tory. And the same A\as true ^vhen the war between Russia and 
Jajnui occurred: God had already in waiting a Togo to send to 
the bottom of the sea of Japan the combined fleet of the enemy; 
and on the land a Ozama and a Kuroki to overwhelm in a suc- 
cession of unprecedented victories the army of the enemy. And 
here God found three hundred men to do the work which he wanted 
done, and placed at their head a man who was worthy to lead them. 

GIDEON'S BAND was organized for the purpose of fighting 
the Midianites — the enemies that were oppressing the Jews at that 
time. It is not of the Jews, however, that I desire to speak at this 
time, but of ourselves as a race. We too have enemies — present, 
ever-active, and poAverful. These enemies may l)e divided into 
two general classes — those that are affecting injuriously our moral 
and economic condition, and those that are affecting injuriously 
our civil and political status. 

(1). Those that are affecting injuriously (luf moral and 
economic condition. T^ndci- this head fire to be classed the evil ten- 
dencies within oui' own heai-ts. and. which arc not different from 
the evil tend(Micies in other races; for, after all, Inunan nature 
is everywhere tlie same. The same radical tendencies are discover- 
able in all men. Human nature is not different in the black 
man fi-om what we find it in the white man. or in the men of any 
other race. Everywhere, in the human heart ai'c evil tendencies 
that lead inevitablly downward, that gravitate towards lower levels. 
We, as a race, have these tendencies just as other races. Under 
this head may be classed also such organized forces of evil as 
strong drink, the saloon, the whole li(|uor business; impurity, all 
gambling institutions, the dance hall, the many agencies that en- 
courage idleness, and frivolity. Everywhere among us these forces 
tny fit work, .Viifl just f\f^ t))e Jews, i?i the time of Giijeon. snf. 



10 

fered from the mroads oi' tiio .ALidianitos, so aiv wc surining from 
the ravages of these foes. AVhat inroads the saloou is making 
among us. How we are being ruined by it morally! How our 
physical strength is l>eing depleted by it! How we are being im- 
poverished 1)y it! Think of what impurity is doing! How it is 
dragging down hundreds and thousands of our yoimg men— down, 
down into that deepest hell of moral degradation ; for there is noth- 
ing that sinks a man so low in the scale of being as impurity, 
as a lustful, lascivious life. Think of what the dance hall and the 
spirit of frivolity which it encourages, are doing to demoralize our 
yoiuig people. These and many other forces are at work among us, 
and are steadily, persistently, day and night, operating to destroy 
us, soul and body. The evil tendencies within us, and the evil in- 
fluences without us are conspiring to destroy us— to destroy us 
physically, morally, economically. It is well for us as a race to 
know what these evil influences are and how we are being affected 

by them. 

(2). As a race, in addition to these forces tluit aitect in- 
juriously our moral and spiritual, our physical and economic in- 
terests, we are also^beset by (>nemies that aie laboring earnestly 
to deprive us of our civil and political rights as American citizens. 
These enemies are most persistent in their efforts, and eveiywhere 
are endeavoring to create a sentiment against us. Every blimder 
that any member of the race makes, every misstep tliat any mem- 
ber of the race takes is by them magnified, and by them paraded 
through the press, and charged to the race as a whole. These 
are the enemies that are clamoring for Jim-Crow cai-s, for segre- 
gation in our cities, for laws against the inter-marriage of the 
races ; and who are endeavoring in every possible way to humihate 
us and to make life just as hard as possible for us. The marvel 
is, as a race, that we are doing as well as we are, in viev.- of the 
many and deadly forces that are arrayed against us. The verdict 
seemingly is, If we are allowed to live at all we must be content 
to be menials, to occupy only the lowest plax^^es; and there is a 
disposition to crowd us out of even such places. The feeling is, 
not only that this is a white morn's government, but that eveiy- 
thing in this country is for the white man. The right of the 
colored man to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, to even 
the most ordinary courtesies of life, seems to be questioned. He 
is, nominally, in a Christian land ; but when it comes to the treat- 
ment which it accords to him, there is no thought of Christianity. 
no effort or endeavor in any way to be governed by the simplest 
principle of the religion of Jesus Christ. In the treatment that 
is accorded to him every principle of Christianity is ignored. 
There is not the slightest disposition to recognize him as a brother, 
to treat him as a man. The atmosphere in which he lives is a hos- 



n 

tile atmnsph(M-(\ The emigrant from Europe, with all his ignorance 
and degradation is welcomed with outstretched hands; but no such 
spirit greets the Xegro. This is as much his home, and he has 
just as nuieh right to he here as any other class of citizens ; and 
yet he is treated, is made to feel as if he were an alien. During 
the Christmas holidays I received a Christmas card upon which 
was represented a very forlorn looking little colored boy, and 
imder it was written: ''Xo one loves me." Whether it was in- 
tended by the artist, wlio was colored, to represent the condition 
of the race in this country or not, I do not know ; but, in a sense, 
and to a measure, it certainly does represent our condition among 
this white population in the midst of which we are living. This 
is not true, of course, of all of the white people. There are some 
who are, in a sense, friendly to us, and who, up to a certain point, 
are willing to stand by us; but there are comparatively few even 
among these who. in their heart of hearts, reeogiiize us as brothers 
in the sense in whieli they recognize white men, or who feel that 
we ar(^ entitled to precisely the sanie treatment as white men are 
entitled to. They think we are entitled to some consideration, but 
not to all that white men are entitled to. The broad Christian 
jn'inciple of the l)rotherhood of nuui, not of white men. but of all 
men. is a principle that, in spite of our professed Christianity, 
and our professed passion for democratic institutions as a nation, 
has never ])een I'ecognized in this country except so far as 
white men are concerned. And this is why the struggle of the 
colored mtUi here for civil and political equality has encountered 
such wide-spread opposition on the part of the enemies of the 
race, and such half-hearted support on tlie pai-t of even his pro- 
fessed friends. Tt is because, at bottom, on the part of both 
friends and foes, there is this denial, consciously or unconsciously, 
of brotherliood, this feeling that they are dealing with a different 
order of beings from themselves. Loyalty to Christianity and to 
democratic principles requires, however, that this barrier be broken 
down. And. sooner or later. I believe it will be broken down. 
The Xegro cannot permanently be denied equality of rights and 
opportunities and Christianity and true democracy be maintained. 
One or the other will be sure to succumb. Christianity and true 
democracy cannot exist anywhere and inequality of rights and 
oppoi'tunities continue to exist. The whoh^ tendency of both of 
these forces is to break down walls of separation and to bring 
about a state of univei-sal brotherhood. And these are the great 
forces of the future — the forces that will moi-e and mor(\ control 
the destiny of humanity. 

What now is our duty, in view of ])i-esent eonditiims — in view 
of the foi'ces that ai-e arrayed against us — \he forces that mean, if 
victorious, physical, intellectual, moral, economic, social, and 



12 

political degradation? How are these ex\\f> to be met? God's 
method of meeting the enemy, as set forth in the passage ^\^e are 
considering, is the one that must be followed. 

How was the yoke of the Midianites thrown off? It \v;is 
through a band of faithful men, whom he "had gotten together, 
and who worked in dependence upon him. And this is all that 
is needed to-day to bring victory, to overtlirow the forces of evil, 
to drive out the enemy. 

(1). We need the right kind of men and women — men and 
1^'omen wlio see the c\il and deplore it — men and women of moral 
convictions — men and women wliose sympathies are with the right, 
whose whole nature rises up in protest against the evil. One 
reason why it is so ditifieult to get anything done along moral 
lines is be<'ause there are so few \\ho have any convictions, so few 
who feel, as the apostle felt Avlien he said, "Necessity is laid upon 
mc, yea, Avoe is me if I preach not the gospel." So profoundly 
had the truth taken hold of him. such were his convictions in 
regard to the needs of luTUianity and the adaptation of the gospel 
to meet those needs that he simply could not keep still. 

We need also men and women of courage — men and women 
who are not afraid to attack the evil, to speak out in condemnation 
of the things about them that are demoralizing in their tendency. 
Another rea.son 'why it is so difficult to make any headway in 
moral reforms is because there ai-e so many cowards in society. 
so many who are timid, who ai'c afraid to speak out. to lift up 
their voices for fear of hurting themselves or of off'ending some- 
body. Cowardice has silenced many a lip. has paralyzed many an 
ann that might have wrought mightily for God and truth. 

We need also reliable men and women — men and women who 
can be depended up(m ; men and Avonien who. when the crisis 
comes, when the ccmflict begins, will not desert, but will stand 
by their colors. There ai-e so many who blow hot and cold on 
moral issues, who are with you to-day and with the enemy to- 
morrow. 

We need also earnest men jind women — men and women who 
are zealous in cause of right — heartily in favor of what is pure, 
lovely, and of good report — who are not disposed to uuike any com- 
promises with evil, who are out and out in their opposition to the 
forces of evil about them. And Ikm-i^ is jniother reason why it is 
difficult to do very much — there are so nmny who are lukewarm, 
indifferent, who don't seem to care whether moral reforms go on 
or not. If they do anything at all it is in an indifferent, half- 
hearted, non-committal way. 

We need also God-fearing men and Avomen — men and women 
of faith — men and M'omen who build on God. who stand on the 
PTOmjsesj (if. (^pd. One tbipi? >vo l"&,y ^P P-ssiir^il pf— nothing ('{jji 



13 

be pffeetirely done for tlip moral uplift of the race, for the over- 
throw of the forces of evil that are at work in our midst, uuless 
\ye licive in every community men and women such a,s I have been 
describing, through whom to operate as the tii-st great requisite. 

(2). These men and women ought to 1)*' l)rought together 
in some form of organization. The three linndi-ed men wlio form- 
ed Gideon's Band were welded together. Tiny understood eaeh 
other; they saw alikg; they felt alike — all liad the same object in 
view; all worked according to the same phni ; all were under tlir 
direction of one leader. An individual working alone may aceoni- 
jdish something; but the most effective way of working, especially 
where there is much to be done, is in eond)ination. is by uniting 
oui' forces under intelligent leadership. Three hundred men work- 
ing together can always do more than one nuui working by 
himself, however effectively he nuiy work. I'lie good people in 
every connnunity. the people who feel the need of doing some- 
thing, nuist come together and pull together — must join hands in 
waging Avar against the forces of evil, by directly op])osing them, 
and by setting up counter influences. In other words, they mast 
stand together if they are to make their influence felt, if tliey are 
to do the most effective work. And here is another reason why we 
do so little. The people who ought to stand together do not al- 
ways stand together. The peojile who ought to say. Amen when a 
l»low is struck for the right, when evils are assailed, aiv llie very 
ones often who criticise the man or the woman who lias the courage 
to s])eak out. And so the little that is done is often lu^utralized. 

(8). We need still another thing. After we get the right 
kind of men and women; and get them oi-ganizcd we need help 
from God. The real secret of the success which came to these three 
hundred men was tliat God was with them. In otlier words, what- 
T nu'an is. that we have got to carry on this flght against the 
foi'ces that are arrayed against us. moral oi* otherwise, if we hoj)e 
for success, in dependence upon God; we have got to feel as 
Luther did; — 

•"Did we in our own strength eonflde. 
Our striving would be losing; 
AYere not the riglit man on our side — 

The man of God's own choosing: 
Dost ask who that man may be'' 
Christ Jesus, it is lie ; 
Lord Sal)aoth His Name, 
From age to age the same. 
And He must wi)i the battle." ; 



14 

I'nloss Wf (it2;lit in Hie- i-onsciousiirss tluit we are not {Igiitiiig 
alone; unless God aetiinlly comes to our aid. our efforts are vain.. 
God has promised to help; and he will help. And this we sihonld 
rememhcr and avail ourselves of. 

With these conditions fulfilled— witli the ri|^ht kiud 
of men and women among us. animated by the same spirit, work- 
ing towards the same end. and linked with God all things in thf' 
way of moral uplift, aiul in the way of countt*racting the intiuent-?' 
of the forces of evil about us are possible. The gates of hell will 
not be able to withstand the united, aggressive, persistent effort 
of men and women of this stamp — -men and women who are them- 
selves thoroughly alive to the importance of keeping the standard 
liigh, and of waging unceasing warfare against the forces of evil. 
"One." we are told, "shall chase a thousand, and two shall put 
ten thousand to flight." And where the conditions are fulfilled 
the rule never fails to work —victory always follows. We are 
weak, because we haven 't faith ; \\e are -weak, t)erause m'c are not 
rniited; we are weak, because we are not in canu^st. 

Such bands of men and women as I ha\-e been describing, are 
evers'whcre needed to-day — in the home, in the church, in the 
Sabbath school, in the Yoiuig Peoples' Society of Christian En- 
deavor, in all our secret organizations — among the ?kIasons and Odd 
Fellows; in all our benevolent societies, in our schools, colleges, 
universities, in all business corporations, banking and other es^ 
tablishments — everywhere such bands are needed — hands of cloan 
men and women, pure men and women, men and women who stand 
np for what is right, who are willing to tight for what is right. 
■\vho can always be depended upon in every moral crisis — who 
fight, and who fight always on the side of right, of honor, of decency 
— -whose inlluence is ahvays thrown in the interest of the thing* 
that are true, and just, and pure, and lovely, and of good report. 

All that 1 have said in i-eference to meeting the moral 
evils that assail us. is also true as to meeting those enemies who are- 
assailing our civil and political rights, as American citizens. Thfvv 
are to be met in the same way. 

(1). In eveiy community we have got to have men arid 
women who put a proper estimate u]">on our civil and poltical 
rights — men and women who know what rights we are entitled to 
as American citizens, who value those rights; and who are deeply 
conscious therefore of the Avrong which the enemies of the race- 
are seeking to perpetrate ni»on us by fle]U'iving us of those rights. 
There are some memljers of our race, unfortunately, who. for on^ 
reason or another, have attempted to minify the im])ortance of 
ci\il and political rights, or wlio. at least, pretend that they Sfe 
no great evil in the (lcpriA-alio)i of these rights: 1 say pretend, 
for, at heart, 1 do not believe they think anything- of the M«i. 



15 

They caunnt Ix'liVvo fis thoy shy tliey do. it" llicy luive any suli' 
respect, or any appreciation oi' what citizenship means. Such 
people are of no vahie to ns in tlie light which "\ve are making 
for onr rights nnder the Constitution: they are i-ather a hindrance 
to us, hecanse they are used hy the enemy in jnstilication of the 
course -which they are pursuing. The fact that there are cohered peo- 
ple, and some so-failed leaders, who don't attach nmch importance 
to these rights, makes the white' assailant feel that, after all, no 
great injury is done to the Negro. The colored people themselves, 
they say, in eifect, don 't regard it as such, and why should we. 
why should we attach any more importance to the matter than they 
do. lu every community therefore, as a foil to this pernicious 
doctrine, there nuist be men and women to whom these rights 
mean something ; there must be men and women who hold them 
in high estimation, who have a deep and abiding sense of their 
value, of their importance. Everywhere, throughout the race, veiy 
little patience ought to be shown, or respect either, to Negroes, 
whether big or little, who undervalue, and who are seeking to 
instill into the rjice a spii-it of indifference to civil and political 
rights. To do so is to encourage the race to conunit political 
suicide; and the race that is williug to commit political suicide 
is the race that will be driven to the wall, that will be the football 
of every other race within the Republic. Strange, that some of 
iLS are so stupid or -so blinded by selfishness that we don't see this! 
Personally T have absolutely no patience with the Negro, big or 
little, who is content 1o live in a country, mider laws which are 
are made for his goveinmcnt without his consent and about which 
he, not only has nothing to say, but is purposely excluded from 
participation in the functions of government. The American 
colonies resisted the imposition of a tax by the British Parlia- 
ment, because they were taxed without representation ; and they 
were right in Ihc resistance wliich they offered. The position in 
which our enemies are seeking to place us is a humiliating one. 
and I pity the race or individual who doesn 't see it, and who 
doesn't feel the humiliation of being compelled to submit to laws 
without haA'ing a voice in the making of them, while others are 
■aeeorded that right, and for no reavson except except the color of 
their skin. It is hnmiliating to be thus discriminated against; and 
the more deeply this sens(> of humiliation is felt by the average 
Negro, the more difficult it will be to permanently depriAc him of 
that I'ight. 

(2). The men and women of our race, in every community, 
will) value civil and political rights, who a)'e not content to be 
legislated for without having a A-oiee in saying who the legislators 
shall be, should work together, should come togetluM- in some form 
of organization, for the purpose :' 



16 

(a). Of asserting \h a kmdly, but positire mablier, wheti- 
ever it shall be necessary, our claims as American citizens lUider 
tlie constitution. We have rights miclcr the constitutions; we are 
American citizens, and we are not to forget this ourselves, nor are 
Ave to let others lose sight of it. The manly assertion of our 
rights is a duty which we owe to oui-selves; and which at the 
proper time, we should never hesitate to perform. 

(^0- We should come together for the purpose of resisting, 
in every lawful way, all attempts to abridge our rights, to curtail 
our privileges as citizens. Whatever other citizens enjoy we have 
a right to enjoy ; and we ought not to submit quietly to dis- 
criminations which violate this principle. If we can't do any- 
thing else, at least, protest; cry aloud. Let those who are respon- 
sible know that we know that Ave are unjustly discriminated 
against. 

(c). We ought also, as far as possible, to carry on a cam- 
paign of education, the design of >vhich should be to strengthen 
our hold on the friends that we have among tlie wliites. and to so 
present the facts touching the race, as to make a favorable im- 
pression upon. and. win over, if possible, our enemies, or, at least, 
to get them thinking along right lines. In this connection the 
Crisis, a magazine that i» published imder the auspices of The 
Xatit)nal Assocnation for the Advancement of Colored People, 
ought to appeal to our people in every community, and ought, 
through their support, to be given the widest circulation. It pre- 
sents, as no other organ does, the bare naked facts a.s to our race 
along all line; and, after all, the facts are the things that tell, 
that win their way, and that produce conviction. The more wide- 
ly we can get this magazine distributed among the whites, the 
more hopeful will be the outlook for us. 

(fZ). In every community also, through our churches, 
through our schools — Sunday and day schools, and through every 
other agency by which they may be reached, avc should endeavor 
to impress upon our people the importance of being respectable, 
of behaving themselves, especially in their public deportment, wheji 
they are before the eyes of those Avho are prejudiced against them, 
and who will be sure to view them with a mucli more critical eye 
than they would their own race. We should impress upon them 
also, in every possible way. Avhenever the opportunity presents 
itself, the importance of being ti-ustworthy, reliable, of qualify- 
ing themselves to do well whatever they undertake to do, so that 
as they come in contact with the whites, as they may find employ- 
ment among the Avhites. the fact of their respectability, their 
efficiency, their reliability, their trustworthiness will stand out 
conspicuously. In this way nuich can be done to ci'cate a senti- 
|f)en| ff)i'Oi'fibl<i t() ifH, to ^ft !»*^ III ft ^i^tipV )khi, to giyi^ [\h ii bcttc|; 



17 

staiidinjr with tiiose w}i<> have heeri indJltV'reiit or hosiilo to us. 
We need, as n race, every one of us, to luidei'staud and to hiy to 
heart, and to get our children to undei'stand and lay to heart, that 
in the environment in which we find ourselves, ue can do very much 
through our personal conduct, through the manner in which we beai- 
ourselves, the manner in which we acquit ourselves, through what 
we make of ourselves and of our children, to intensify or to dimin- 
ish this opposition to us. This won't accomplish everything, of 
course, but it will aid mightily in removing some of the obstacles 
out of the way. The better we behave ourselves, the more we 
make of ourselves, the more, I know, we are hated by some, but 
that doesn't destroy the force of the general pi-inciple we are her^ 
laying down. 

(3). There is still another foi'ce that we can utilize in the 
great struggle that we are making against our enemies, and that 
is the force that lies in effectual, ferA'cnt prayer, the force that 
links us with God, with the ]\Iighty God. We have the reputation 
of being a religious people. I don't know wliether we are really 
religious or not. We have, 1 know, a great many professoi-s of 
religion among us"- but as to whether there is a great deal real 
true religion, which consists in loving God and in keeping liis 
commandments, among us, may be a question. One thing I Iviiow, 
however, in the days of slaveiy, when the iron heel of i)hysical 
oppression was upon our necks, there were many, many of the 
fathers and mothers of the race who believed in God and in the 
power of prayer, and who by day and by night, in the cotto^i 
fields and in the rice swamps, sent up their petitions to heaven. 
And while I know that Garrison and Philips and the noble band 
of anti-slavery worker labored earnestly and faithfully to quicken 
the national conscience; and that the armies of the North, under 
Grant, and Sherman, and Sheridan and others, marched in the 
South and grappled in a death struggle with the forces of Re- 
bellion ; and that Lincoln i.ssued his Emancipation Proclamation, 
nevertheless, I believe that among the mightiest forces that wrought 
for the slave were the prayers which they themselves sent up to 
vVlmighty God. Prayer became a power in their hands mightier 
than armies and proclamations. And that power we can wield 
to-day and ought to be wielding it. God can do wonders for us 
if we will rely upon him, if we will put our trust in him. He 
can soften the hard hearts of our enemies; he can raise up 
friends for us; he can open ways for us that we know not of. I 
have .just been reading over the Book of Esthei-. known as the 
book of God's Providential Care. How wonderfully did he intei-- 
pose in behalf of the Jews ; but it came as the result of days of 
fasting and prayer. AVhen Esther suggested three days of fasting 
and prayer, everything seemed to be against them. Tkeir arch 



IS 

enemy was highest iii the fiivur of the king; iuid lie had not only 
obtained permission to destroy the Jews throughout the empire, 
but the decree had already been issued and the day fixed for its 
execution. It was at this jimcture that eaVnest. incessant prayer 
was made to Jehovah, and the result was the man that sought their 
ruin was hurled from power, and hurled into eternity to answer 
at a higher than earthly tribunals for his infamous conduct. We, 
as a people, would do well to ponder carefully the words of Esther 
to Mordicai in our struggle against the enemies in this country 
that are bent on our destruction just as truly as Haman was bent 
on the destruction of the Jews, and for the same reason, because 
we are not disposed to bow and cringe and debase ourselves before 
them. The statement is ''A¥hen Ilaman saw that ^Mordicai bowed 
not, nor did him reverence, then was Ilaman full of wrath." It 
was then that he formed the determination to destroy, not only 
Mordicai. but the whole race with which he was identified. And 
at the bottom it is the same spirit against which we have to 
struggle in this eonntry. If we were willing to efface ourselves, 
to accept the position assigned us by our enemies there would 
be no trouble. The thing that offends, that excites the ire of the 
whites is the assertion or exhibition of manhood on the part of the 
Negro; it is because he has the temerity to (tlaim for himself Avhat 
they claim for themselves, and precisely on the same ground. The 
thought of the Negro as a slave has so taken ^possession of them 
a,s to entirel}' obliterate from their minds the thought of him as 
a man and citizen. And these are the people who are in the se.at 
of power; these are the people who Imve the ears of the country, 
the people who control, largely, the press and pulpit, the business 
and labor organizations, and who command, in ^■irtue of their 
wealth, the best legal talents of the country. We seem to be hope- 
lessly in their power, as hopelessly as the Jews seemed to be in 
the power of Haman. But Haman did not succeed in carrying 
out his diabolical purpose; and the power that checked him, and 
that overthrew him, was the power of prayer. We. as a race, 
must use this power more than we have been in the habit of doing. 
Tliose among us, in every community, who believe in God, and 
who are trying earnestly to serve him in sinctnity, for unless we 
are our prayers will avail nothing, should make it a business to 
take our race troubles to him as well as our individual and family 
troubles. God has promised to help, and to help right early if 
we call upon him. And this is what we must do ; and do more 
largely than we have been in the habit of doing. The exhortation 
of the apostle is, "Be careful for nothing; but in everything by 
prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made 
kj[j(;)vrj^ Mpju (^}od "— -Pljil , 4 ■ i). A praying nxce i,)V people h^ 



19 

mji^ii4>»;f t(i f^Av fruiM eufiiiifs. huwevri- wuuifvuiis wi' powerful. 
And the sooner we le.irn this the Ijettei' it \'> ill he for lis. 

And now with the thought of Gideon's }5and hefore us, the. 
thought of the kind of men they were, and w hat they aeeoniplished 
under the divine direction, and in reliance upon God. in view of 
tht* adverse inliuences against which we ha\e to contend, we may 
well ask ouiselve.s the (juestion : 

(1). Are we seeking, as meuihers of this race, to possess the 
u.«hle qualities of the men of (jideon's Hand.' They were men of 
eharttcter ; men of courage; men dominated by a grecit purpose; 
men who fully realized the .seriousness of the business in which 
they were engaged: they were not of the giddy, frivolous, pleasure- 
seeking, namby pamby type that is so often met with to-day, es- 
l,>«eially among our young people, and. often. il is no better among 
the older ones. 

(2). Are we binding ourselves together in Gideon Hands in 
e.veiy comnuuiity. to hel}) uplift the race; to help battle against 
the evils which tend to drag us down, to undermine our health, our 
character, our good name? Are we coming to realize, more and 
more, the importance of cooperation, of working togetlier for the 
g:eneral good? 

(3). Are we. in our pereonal character and ",onduet. in all 
our bearings and relations .so clearly, so distinctly of Gideon "s 
Hand — so unquestionably on the side of what is b.'st <uid noblest, 
as to be a steady uplifting influence for good among ourselves: 
and in our contact and relation with the whites, a.s to lead them 
to think more highly of the race because of what they see and know 
of us? Gideon Bands we need everywhere — -men and women of 
the highest character, whose clean pure lives will he not only an 
incentive to the race to live nobly, but also an unanswtM-able 
argument against the traducers of the race. We cannot, as a 
ra(^e, present in any considerable numbers, men and women con- 
spicuous for moral and spiritual worth without producing a 
favorable impression for the race. Gideon Bands everywhere are 
needed, for work within the race, and for \vork without the race, 
upon those who need to be mollified, changed, converted. Such 
liands should not only be organized, but wc slioidd see to it that 
we are members of them. 

(4). Are we keeping alive \\ithin nui- own lii'easts. as in- 
(Jividuals. and within the consciousness of the race the value of 
citizenship and of citizenship rights? It is our duty to cherish 
these rights oursehes. and to instill into our children a like ap- 
preciation of them. And it is our duty also, and the duty of 
ouj' childreu to stand up manfully for them, It uuiy not be a 
r.'fepaliir thiiiM' fi^ <1'-' ^"' J^ nmsl bif f^unc neVeithelei??, .^^'v' njiiy 



20 

not b«' <-il)lo 1(» hold tlie pass of Theriiiopyla', lint it should never 
be siu'reiulered. It uimv be taken, but it slumlcl be only when 
there is no one left to liold it. It is always more glorious to 
perish in a righteous eause than to survive with dishonor. And 
I believe as long as tlu'r(> is a sjtark of manhood left in the raee 
the struggle for our i-ights. as Ameriean citizens, will go on, I do 
not believe that the time will ever eome. when the -Negro will l)e 
quiescent on his rights until those rights are fully accorded to him. 

The call that I. am making to this race to-day is for the self- 
respceting men and women of it. in every community, to band 
themwlves together for the building up of character; for the set- 
ting up of lofty ideals; for the maintenance of a high standard 
of morals among men as well as women ; for waging uncompro- 
mising warfare against all the forces of coi-i'uption — against the 
saloon, the gambling den, the bawdy house and every other de- 
moralizing institution ; for keeping alive in the race an interest 
in matters civil and political ; and for active, aggressive work in 
resisting encroachments n])on our I'ights. Jt is a call, I trust, 
that will be lieeded; that, all over this land, there will be a rally- 
ing of the better elements of the race in concerted (effort for race 
betterment; for enlai'ged oppoi'tunities; and for the full enjoy- 
ment of all of our rights as American citizens. 

Once in four years, in connection witli a Presidential In- 
uugiiration, is a good time to look each other in the face; to re- 
affirm our principles; and to pledge ourselves anew to go fearlessly 
forward in the good work which we have l)egnn. If we do our 
part faithfully — if we work; if we do right; if we eschew evil; 
if we put our trust in Crod and make his word a lamp to our feet 
and a light to our path, there is no power anywhere that 'can 
defeat us in our purpose to rise to the full measure of a man, and 
to the full enjoyment of all the rights that belong to us as Ameri- 
can citizens. We cannot fail; we will not fail, if we are wise, 
active, wide-awake, persistent, resistant, in earnest. Our future 
is largely within our own hands. 

"In the field of destiny, 
We reap as we have sown," 

is what the poet says. And that is true of races as well as in- 
dividuals. It is important that we realize this, and that every 
latent energy Avithin us. as a race, be aroused and enlisted in the 
RTcat Avork of sowing such seeds as Avill insure a glorious harvest. 
If we sow friA'olity. idleness, improvidence, intemperance ; if Ave 
are lax in morals, if Ave put umterial things aboA'e spiritual things, 
if AA'e are indifferent to our rights, as citizens, if Ave are content 
to be like dumb driven cattle. Ave Avill reap accoi-dingly. And 
vice versa, if aa'« discourage frivolity, idleness, improvidence, in- 



pD 10.4 



21 

I 

temperance, if 'R'e insist n]ioM enforeiii*: n hip;h standainl of morals, 
if xre put spiritual things abo\'e luatcrial lliiii;4s. if we stand u]) 
for GUI' I'ights as hhmi. and cultivate a divine luircst. kct'pinjf tlu' 
eyes of the soul ever tunu'd towards the ht'i.u:h1s. \v<* will also reaiJ 
aoeordingly. Eveiy thing depends upon the sowing, and Iheit-fore 
let every member of this race, in the eonseionsness of liis oi- her 
rospoiLsibility, siiy. as one of old. "God do so t(» me an<l luorr 
also." if, in my personal character and life, in wliat I may do or 
say, I sow anything" that will jeoj>ardize the uioi-al, economic 
or political future of this i-ace. If we. in this generation, will 
sow in the hearts of our people the right kind of seeds — seeds of 
morality, and religion, of civil and political e(|uality. the next 
generation will catch our spirit and go on sowing the same kind 
of seeds, and when the harvest time comes we know what tlif 
reaping will be. I.'p then eveiy member of this race! Let us do 
our level best to ensure a good harvest — a haivest of good men 
and women and »*hildren. of God-fearing men and woukmi and 
children, of men. women, and children who know what their 
rights are and how to maintain them. To tliis end b't evciw onr 
of us here this morning pledge ourselves, and go fortli witli Ihr 
solenni }>ur])ose and determination to inoculate every man. woman. 
and child of the race, with the same spirit, with the. same ])uri)ose. 
with the sa)ne determination. 




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